Chapter 4: ♡~3♡

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The next morning, Jungkook’s peaceful moment was shattered by the abrupt knock on his door. He had barely slept, the weight of the conversation with Taehyung lingering in his chest. But whatever fleeting calm he had felt dissolved the moment one of his men entered with a grim look on his face.

"Boss," the man said cautiously, standing at attention. "We have news. Your biggest rival... Kang Min-ho... he's planning something."

Jungkook straightened up in his seat, his entire body going rigid. "What is it?" he asked, though the answer already seemed to crawl up his spine, a sense of dread building in his gut.

"They're planning to kill you, sir. Word is he’s making his move soon."

The room fell silent, the words hanging in the air like a noose tightening around Jungkook’s neck. He had always known this day would come—that in his line of work, danger was a constant shadow lurking at every turn. But this time, it felt different. The weight of it, the urgency—it felt too close.

Without thinking, Jungkook reached for his phone. His first instinct was to call Taehyung. His right hand, his most trusted person, the one who could steady him in the chaos. Taehyung would know what to do, how to handle this.

He dialed the number, his fingers moving quickly across the screen. But when he pressed the call button, the line didn’t connect.

Switched off.

Frowning, Jungkook tried again. The same result.

His heart began to race as panic set in. He tried a third time, then a fourth. Still, nothing. Taehyung’s phone was off.

Jungkook stood up, pacing the room now as he desperately dialed the number over and over again. Each time, the automated voice on the other end informed him the line was unavailable, and each time his frustration grew.

Where are you, Tae?

Jungkook’s mind spun with thoughts. Taehyung had just left the day before. He was supposed to be with his family, relaxing, recharging. But now, with this threat hanging over his head, all Jungkook could think about was Taehyung’s absence—how much he needed him right now.

His heart pounded in his chest as he slammed the phone down on the table, his breathing ragged. The idea of facing this without Taehyung beside him felt impossible.

“Get the team ready,” Jungkook ordered the man still standing in the doorway. “We need extra security and intel on Kang Min-ho’s movements. I want every possible lead.”

“Yes, sir,” the man responded before quickly exiting the room.

Jungkook stood there, staring at the phone, willing it to ring. Taehyung... where are you? He felt a lump forming in his throat, the frustration and fear mixing together in a dangerous cocktail.

His mind was racing, filled with worst-case scenarios. What if Kang Min-ho already knew Taehyung wasn’t here? What if something happened to him and Jungkook didn’t know?

That thought alone was enough to make his blood run cold.

He knew Taehyung could handle himself. He was strong, quick-witted, and skilled in more ways than one. But still, the silence on the other end of the line unnerved him.

Jungkook clenched his fists, feeling powerless. He hated that feeling—the idea that there was nothing he could do. His mind screamed at him to find Taehyung, to ensure he was safe before anything else. But where could he even begin?

As the minutes ticked by, the gnawing fear in his chest only grew. He needed to figure out how to protect himself, yes, but more than anything, he needed to know that Taehyung was okay.

With his heart in his throat, Jungkook grabbed his jacket, heading out to make preparations. But even as he moved with purpose, every second felt like an eternity without hearing Taehyung’s voice.

Please, Tae. Answer me.

--

It had been three agonizing days since Jungkook last heard from Taehyung, and the silence was driving him insane. His mind oscillated between two overwhelming sources of stress—his rival, Kang Min-ho, and Taehyung’s inexplicable disappearance.

Jungkook had tried to keep a steady front, maintaining his composure in front of his men, issuing orders, and increasing security measures. But the moment he was alone in his office or in his room, the weight of everything came crashing down.

He sat on the edge of his bed that night, the room dimly lit by the single lamp on his nightstand. His phone was clutched tightly in his hand, but it was useless. There had been no messages, no missed calls. Every time he dialed Taehyung’s number, the result was the same: Switched off. It was as if Taehyung had vanished off the face of the earth.

A cold fear settled deep in his chest. What if something happened to him? What if Kang Min-ho got to him? The thought made Jungkook's stomach twist painfully.

The world’s most feared mafia boss, Jeon Jungkook, was known for his ruthlessness. But beneath that icy exterior, he was still a shy, introverted man. And when he was angry or upset, he couldn’t express it in ways others did. His emotions had always been bottled up, and the only way they found release was through tears.

Tonight was no different.

Sitting in the stillness of his room, Jungkook’s vision blurred as tears welled up in his eyes. His chest tightened, and before he could stop himself, he let out a sob. His body shook with the weight of the emotions he had been trying to suppress—fear, frustration, anger, and, most of all, worry for Taehyung.

The tears fell harder as he buried his face in his hands, feeling utterly helpless.

"Why, Tae?" he whispered into the silence. "Where are you?"

He didn’t understand how Taehyung could just disappear like this, without a word, without even leaving a trace. Jungkook was going crazy with worry, and the lack of control over the situation only fueled his anger.

Anger that was rooted in the one person who mattered most to him.

Taehyung.

As much as he wanted to be furious at his rival, as much as he hated Kang Min-ho for plotting his demise, all of that seemed insignificant compared to the gnawing ache in his chest that came from Taehyung’s absence.

He had been in love with Taehyung from the moment they met, though he had never once confessed it. Taehyung had always been so oblivious, so bold and confident, while Jungkook was the complete opposite—reserved, shy, always hiding behind his stoic exterior. Taehyung had no idea the effect he had on him, and that only made things worse.

“Why didn’t you tell me where you were going?” Jungkook choked out, his voice barely above a whisper. “Why didn’t you... just stay?”

His tears flowed freely now, the emotion overwhelming him. He didn’t care about his reputation, or how weak this might make him seem. Taehyung was the only person who had ever seen the real him, the vulnerable Jungkook who hid behind the mafia boss persona. And now, the person he needed the most was nowhere to be found.

His heart felt heavy, almost too heavy to bear. It wasn’t just worry for Taehyung’s safety—it was the realization that he couldn’t function without him. For years, Taehyung had been his constant, his anchor. Now, without him, Jungkook felt like he was unraveling, piece by piece.

The days had been torture. The first day, he convinced himself Taehyung was just busy with his family. By the second day, his worry had grown into panic. Now, on the third day, he was at his breaking point.

His men had tried to reassure him, telling him that Taehyung was probably fine, just taking some time for himself. But Jungkook knew better. Something was wrong—he could feel it in his bones.

His phone buzzed, startling him out of his thoughts. His heart leaped into his throat as he scrambled to pick it up, but his hope quickly deflated when he saw it wasn’t Taehyung. Just one of his men checking in about the latest intel on Kang Min-ho. Jungkook quickly typed a response, though his mind was far from focused on the rival that wanted him dead.

Kang Min-ho’s threat was real, but at this moment, it was Taehyung’s absence that consumed him. The tears kept coming, his breath hitching as he let out the frustration he’d been holding in for days.

Jungkook wanted to scream, wanted to hit something, wanted to do anything that would make this suffocating pain go away. But all he could do was cry.

He hated this—this weakness he felt. But more than that, he hated the thought of facing the world without Taehyung by his side.

“I need you,” he whispered brokenly, his voice barely audible in the stillness of the room. “Please... come back.”

But the silence was his only answer.

.

.

.

Jungkook had steeled himself, ready to ruin his rival Kang Min-ho’s plan, despite the emotional turmoil he was going through. He gathered his men, setting the strategy in motion. The carefully laid out plan was meant to crush Kang Min-ho, to show him that Jeon Jungkook wasn’t a man to be messed with. But things didn’t go as expected.

As Jungkook walked to the warehouse where his men were waiting, everything suddenly went black. The sharp pain at the back of his head was the last thing he remembered before darkness consumed him.

When he regained consciousness, he found himself bound to a chair in an unfamiliar room. His hands and feet were tied tightly, and his head throbbed with pain. The room was dimly lit, and the air was thick with tension. His heart raced as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. His vision was blurry at first, but when it cleared, he saw someone standing in the shadows.

“Who the hell—” Jungkook started, his voice hoarse, but the figure stepped forward before he could finish.

And then his world shattered.

It was Taehyung.

Kim Taehyung, the man who had been his right hand, his most trusted person, the one he had been crying over just days ago. The man he had secretly loved from the very moment they met. But now, Taehyung stood in front of him, arms crossed, an unreadable expression on his face.

Jungkook’s heart sank. He didn’t understand what was happening. Why was Taehyung here? Why was he the one standing before him in this cold, empty room?

And then the truth hit him like a freight train.

Taehyung wasn’t just anyone. He was Kang Min-ho’s brother.

The realization struck Jungkook so hard that it took his breath away. He felt like the ground had been ripped out from under him. His entire world crumbled in that moment, and all he could do was stare at Taehyung in shock and disbelief.

“You... You’re his brother?” Jungkook’s voice trembled as he spoke, his eyes wide with confusion and hurt.

Taehyung didn’t answer immediately. His face was calm, too calm, and it sent a wave of unease through Jungkook.

“Yes,” Taehyung finally said, his tone cold and distant. “I’m Kang Min-ho’s younger brother.”

Jungkook’s heart clenched painfully in his chest. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. How could he have been so blind? How could he have not seen it? He had trusted Taehyung, had relied on him for everything. Taehyung had been his strength, his confidant. And now, he realized that everything had been a lie.

Jungkook’s body tensed as anger and betrayal coursed through him. “So, this was your plan all along? Get close to me, gain my trust, and then betray me?”

Taehyung’s expression remained unreadable, his eyes flickering with something Jungkook couldn’t quite place. “It wasn’t like that, Jungkook.”

Jungkook let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. “Oh really? Then what was it like? You’ve been lying to me this whole time, haven’t you? I thought you were my right hand. I thought I could trust you. But all this time, you were working for him. For your brother.”

Taehyung stepped closer, his jaw tight. “I wasn’t working for him. I was working for you. I always have.”

Jungkook glared at him, his chest rising and falling with rapid breaths. “Then why am I tied up like this? Why are you standing there as if you didn’t just rip my heart out?”

Taehyung’s face finally cracked, showing a hint of the inner turmoil he was hiding. “Because I didn’t have a choice!” he snapped, his voice louder now, filled with frustration.

Jungkook’s mind was racing. His heart ached with the weight of the betrayal, but more than that, he couldn’t shake the pain of realizing that the person he had loved from the shadows was part of his worst enemy’s family.

“You could have told me,” Jungkook said, his voice barely above a whisper. “You could have told me the truth, Taehyung. I would have understood. But you didn’t. You lied. You made me believe that you were on my side.”

Taehyung’s gaze softened, and for a brief moment, Jungkook saw the Taehyung he had fallen for—the man who had hugged him from behind, the man who had unknowingly been the source of his every heartbeat. “I didn’t want you to hate me,” Taehyung said quietly, his voice trembling slightly. “I didn’t want you to see me as the enemy.”

Jungkook’s heart clenched painfully. He wanted to believe Taehyung. He wanted to believe that there was still something real between them. But the hurt was too fresh, too raw.

“How am I supposed to believe anything you say now?” Jungkook asked, his voice breaking. “How am I supposed to trust you after this?”

Taehyung looked at him, his eyes filled with regret. “I never wanted to hurt you, Jungkook. I swear. This... this wasn’t part of the plan.”

Jungkook closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing. He didn’t know what to think anymore. All he knew was that everything he had once believed in was now tainted by betrayal.

And the worst part?

Despite everything, despite the lies, despite the pain, he still loved Taehyung.

But now, that love felt like a curse.

Jungkook's chest was heaving, his emotions a tangled mess of anger, betrayal, and heartache. He couldn’t hold it in anymore. His voice came out sharp, louder than he had intended.

“Why, Taehyung? Why the hell did you do this?” Jungkook shouted, his voice shaking with both fury and desperation. “Why did you disappear without a word? You didn’t even say goodbye! And now I find out you’ve been lying to me this whole time?”

Taehyung flinched at Jungkook’s words, but he didn’t step back. He held his ground, though his eyes reflected the weight of what he was about to say.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this, Jungkook,” Taehyung said softly, almost apologetically. “I didn’t plan for any of this. My brother... Min-ho... he planned everything from the start.”

Jungkook’s breath hitched. The mention of Kang Min-ho made his blood boil. “Your brother,” he spat, “the one who’s been trying to kill me for years? That brother?”

Taehyung nodded slowly, his gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before meeting Jungkook’s eyes again. “Yes, my brother. But Jungkook, you have to understand... I didn’t want any of this. I was never supposed to get this close to you.”

Jungkook’s jaw clenched. “Then why did you?”

Taehyung took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. “When I first met you, it was all part of my brother’s plan. He wanted someone on the inside, someone who could gather information and... and sabotage you. I didn’t want to do it, but I didn’t have a choice. He gave me no option.”

Jungkook’s heart sank, but he remained silent, waiting for Taehyung to continue.

“My brother is ruthless, Jungkook. You know that. He uses everyone around him to get what he wants, even his own family. When he found out I had gotten close to you, he pressured me to do more, to hurt you in ways I couldn’t imagine. But...”

Taehyung paused, his eyes flickering with emotion. “But as I spent more time with you, I started seeing you for who you really are. Not the feared mafia boss everyone talks about, but the real you—the shy, introverted Jungkook who cares about his people, who struggles with things no one else sees. And I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t betray you like he wanted me to.”

Jungkook’s fists tightened in his lap. He wanted to believe Taehyung, but the betrayal still stung too deeply. “Then why disappear? Why not tell me the truth? Why didn’t you give me a chance to understand?”

Tears welled up in Taehyung’s eyes, and he quickly blinked them away. “I didn’t know how. My brother was closing in, and I knew that if I didn’t leave, he would force me to do something even worse. So, I left. I thought that by staying away, I could protect you from whatever he had planned next.”

Jungkook’s heart ached, a mixture of hurt and confusion swirling inside him. “You thought disappearing would protect me?” he asked, his voice laced with bitterness. “Do you have any idea what these past few days have been like for me? You left me, Taehyung. I was going insane, thinking something happened to you, trying to figure out why you would just... leave.”

Taehyung took a step closer, his face filled with regret. “I’m sorry, Jungkook. I didn’t think it would hurt you this much. I thought you’d be safer without me around.”

Jungkook laughed bitterly, shaking his head. “You think I’m safer now? Look where I am, Taehyung. Tied up. Trapped. Your brother still wants me dead, and now... now I find out the person I trusted most has been hiding the biggest secret of all.”

Taehyung’s hands trembled as he took another step toward Jungkook. “I never wanted to hurt you, Jungkook. I swear. I didn’t know it would turn out like this.”

Jungkook met Taehyung’s gaze, searching for any hint of deception. But all he saw was sincerity, regret, and something else—something that mirrored the feelings he had been carrying for Taehyung all along.

“Then tell me,” Jungkook whispered, his voice softer now, but still laced with pain. “Tell me everything. From the beginning. I want to know why... and how we ended up here.”

Taehyung exhaled slowly, nodding. He sat down across from Jungkook, his expression pained.

“It started years ago,” Taehyung began. “My brother has always been obsessed with power, with taking over every corner of the underworld. He knew you were a threat, even before you knew who he was. So, when he found out that I had... crossed paths with you, he saw an opportunity.”

Jungkook furrowed his brow. “Crossed paths? You mean the day we first met?”

Taehyung nodded, his eyes distant as he recalled the memory. “Yes. That day was no coincidence. My brother sent me to that meeting, hoping I could get close to you. He thought you’d never suspect me. After all, why would Jeon Jungkook ever think that an ordinary guy like me could be tied to Kang Min-ho?”

Jungkook’s throat tightened. He remembered that day vividly. Taehyung had been introduced as his new assistant, someone recommended by a close ally. It had seemed harmless enough at the time.

“But things changed,” Taehyung continued, his voice softer now. “As I spent more time with you, I realized my brother was wrong about you. You weren’t just some ruthless mafia boss. You were... different. You were kind, even though you tried to hide it. You were thoughtful. And...”

He hesitated, glancing at Jungkook before looking away again. “And I started to care about you. I didn’t mean to, but I did.”

Jungkook’s heart clenched at Taehyung’s words. He had dreamed of hearing those words from Taehyung so many times before, but now they felt bittersweet, tainted by the truth.

“Why didn’t you tell me then?” Jungkook asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “You could have told me you were Kang Min-ho’s brother. You could have told me everything.”

Taehyung looked at him with pained eyes. “Because I was scared, Jungkook. I was scared of losing you. I thought if you knew who I really was, you’d hate me. And I couldn’t bear that.”

Jungkook let out a shaky breath, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions. He didn’t know whether to be angry or relieved, hurt or hopeful. All he knew was that Taehyung had turned his world upside down.

“I don’t know if I can forgive you for this,” Jungkook finally said, his voice barely steady.

Taehyung swallowed hard, nodding in understanding. “I know. I don’t expect you to. But... I didn’t betray you, Jungkook. Not in the way you think. I was trying to protect you.”

Jungkook looked away, his thoughts a chaotic storm. Could he trust Taehyung again? Could he believe that everything wasn’t a lie?

But as much as his heart ached, deep down, a part of him still wanted to believe in Taehyung. Despite everything, he still loved him.

And that, more than anything, terrified him.

--

┌─── W͜͡e͜͡l͜͡c͜͡o͜͡m͜͡e͜͡   t͜͡o͜͡ m͜͡y͜͡ p͜͡a͜͡r͜͡a͜͡d͜͡i͜͡s͜͡e͜͡

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